Folding table



2 Sheen-Shut 1 H. J. GILBERT FOLDING TABLE Filed Oct. 15. 1924 May 10, 1927.

May "10 1927.

Jill

H. J. GILBERT lemme TABLE Fund 001:. 15. 1924 2 Shanta-Shut 2 Int/8722b?" I Patented May 10, 1927.

HENRY J. GILBERT, 01' SAGINAW, IIGKIGAN.

FOLDING TABLE.

- M invention relates more articularly to f olding ironing tables of t e ty in which 'an roning board is provided wit col- 7 lapsible legs which maybe folded up 6 parallel with theboard and in small compass, so that the table may be conveniently stored or set aside out of the way when not in use. In my -co ending application filed October 15,1925, erial No. 743,658 I have described a novel folding ironing board of this character which is particularly rigid, stable and efficient and in certain respects is similar to that hereinafter described, and

in such application I have claimed the features of construction common to both applications and believed to be patentably novel. My present invention relates more articularly to a different novel constructlon and arrangement of the front leg of the table and the means for locking the collapsible le structure in extended position, the essentia elements of my invention being more articularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 a is a bottom plan view of the table with the le s folded; Fig. 2 is a side view of the ta le with the legs extended to working osition; Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views on a arger scale than that of the first three figures showing in central longitudinal section and front view, respectively, the construction of a sliding locking collar which in the extended position of 1 the legs brings up against a stationary member on the underside of the board; Fig. 5 is a detail showing the ivotal connection of certain bracing members; Figs. 6 and 7 are details of a ivoted engagement of the rear legs with iiame members, showing the arrangement of sto lugs for limiting the pivotal movement,

an Fig. 8 is a detail side view showing a modified construction of locking collar.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures of the drawing.

a The ironing board 1 of my novel ironing table is in the present instance secured to the folding leg structure through a transverse front bracket member, 2 and a rear Application ma 0mm- 15, me. mm m. man.

bracket member 3, which may both be con- I veniently formed of metal strips formed with projecting ears or In at the ends and centrally to rovide bearlngs in which the, folding mem ers may be pivoted. The le and b'rac1ng members which constitute t e folding structure may be formed of metal tubm flattened as shown to facilitate jointng 0 the parts together. a

The front leg 4 of the table, consisting of L a centrally arranged shaft, is slotted at its inner end to straddle the bend 5 of the front bracket member 2, this bend constitutin a pivoting lug to which the front leg mem er is pivoted. Bracing rods 6-6, riveted to the leg 4 near its outer end and pivoted to the lugs 7-7 at the ends of said framememher are provided to complete a folding, triangular, braced front leg structure. The rear bracket member is angular in shape being formed with similar op osite portions making at the center of the card I a broadly obtuse angle on its forward side. The bracket member is formed with a pair of central hearing lugs or ears 10-10, and with outer bearing lugs 11-11, to which latter the rear legs 12-12 of the table are p voted. Bracing members 13-13 are provided which at their outer ends are secured respectively to the legs 12-12 at points intermediate their ends by a pair of inner, rlvets 14-14 respectively engaging the legs 50 12-12, the bracin members 13-13 and interposed spacing locks 15-15; and by a pan of outer rivets or rivet pins 16-16, these rivet pins afi'ording pivotal connections for other members of the folding leg structure. At their inner ends the bracing members 13-13 are lpivoted to the bearing lugs 10-10 of the caring strips, respectively.

The rear legs are connected to the front leg by means of a pair of connecting rods 19-19 pivoted respectively to the rivet ins 16-16 on the rear legs and also pivots to the front leg on opposite sides thereof b means of a'cross pm 18 extending throug such leg and the bracing rods 6-6 near their outer ends, which latter are flattened and offset to permit the flattened ends of the rods 19 to seat and nest in the bends so formed when the device is folded.

The folding leg structure thus far described is maintained in extended position when the device is unfolded for use by means of a pair of locking truss rods 17-17 pivoted respectively to the rear legs through the rivet pins 16-16 and a common connected slide in the form of a locking collar or sleeve 20 pivoted between the front ends of such locking rods. This locking collar is arranged to slide on the front le of the table, and in the preferred form 0 my invention it is slit on its forward side and notched at the upper end of the slit to accommodate the bend 5 of the front bracket member, the outer ends of the notch being slightly rounded, and the fit of, the parts being snug, so that the spring action of the edges of the sleeve on opposite sides of its slit will tend to yieldingly hold the parts in engagement when forced together. This spring action is supplemented to some extent by the forward thrust of the locking rods 17 tending to close the slit in the col lar, and the notched engagement between the bend 5 of the bracket member and the notch in the collar 20 prevents any rotative yielding of the collar, which materially aids in producing a rigid construction.

The top of the front leg and the inner or upper edge of the collar are cut at such an angle that when the legs are in extended position the parts first mentioned will both bring up squarely against the face" of the bracket member 2.

The rear legs 12, it will be noted (see Figs. 6 and 7 are formed with lugs 21 at the rear side of the inner or upper ends arranged to bring up against the edges of the rear bracket members when the legs are in fully extended osition, to assist in giving rigidity and sta ility to the leg structure in such position.

As is evident from a consideration of the symmetrical oblique pivotal mounting of the rear legs, the feet of the two legs travel in planes which are equally and oppositely inclined to the vertical plane of symmetry of the parts passing longitudinally throug the center line of the board. The legs, moreover, are inclined outwardly from the outer end of their pivotal bearings,that is, each leg makes an obtuse angle with the line connecting its outer and inner points of support,-the proportions and arrangementof the parts with relation to the board being such that the legs lie approximately parallel with and lie within the opposite margins of the board when the legs are in olded position, and spread outwardly and way from each other beyond the vertical planes of such margins as the legs are unfolded to extended position, thus giving a very broad footing and great stability to the table.

In Fig. 8 l have shown a modified form of means for locking the truss rods 17-17 in extended position. In this modification the collar is not slotted and has no spring action, and its lower face is adapted to cooperate with a spring-pressed cam latch 25 pivotally mounted inside the front leg 4 and projecting through a slot therein.

I claim:

1. In a folding ironing table or the like, a board, a centrally arranged front le pivotally connected to the board, a pair 0 rear legs pivotally connected to the board, connecting rod means pivoted to said front leg and also pivotally connected with said rear legs, and a locking rod member pivotally connected with said rear legs intermediate their ends and slidingly connected with said front leg.

2. In a folding table or the like, a board, a front leg pivotally connected to the board, a pair of rear legs pivoted to opposed bearing-members arranged in divergent relation and arranged to spread apart when moved from closed to extended position, a pair of connecting rods pivoted to said front leg near its foot and also severally pivotally connected with said rear legs at points intermediate their ends, and a pair of locking rods severally pivotally connected with said rear le s at intermediate oints and equipped with a common locking member slidably mounted on said front leg.

3. In a folding ironing table or the like,

board, a pair of rear legs pivotally connected to the board, abracket member equipped with a central pivoting lug, a front leg member notched at its inner end to engage said lug and pivoted thereto, and a folding locking rod member pivotally connected with said rear legs intermediate their ends and equipped with a sliding collar engaging said front leg member, said collar being arranged to clampingly engage said pivoting lug when the' locking rod member is in extended position.

4. A folding table comprising a table top and front and rear pivoting lugs secured thereto, a centrally arranged front leg structure pivoted to said front lugs and includin a central member and diagonally arrange bracing members, a pair of rear legs pivoted to said rear pivoting lugs, said rear legs being set on oppositely inclined axes, whereby said legs are arranged to spread outwardly when unfolded, a pair of connecting rods pivoted to said front leg structure near its foot and also respectively pivoted to said rear'legs at points intermediate their ends, and a pair of locking rods pivoted at one end to said rear legs at points intermediate their ends, the opposite ends of said locking rods being connected with a common locking member slidabl mounted on said central member of the ront leg.

5. In a folding ironing table or the like, a front leg consisting of a. centrally arranged shaft hinged to the table top and having a slide thereon, a pair of rear legs pivotally connected to said table top, a pair of connecting rods pivoted to said front leg near its foot and also pivotally connected 1 in; truss rods being connected with said slide.

HENRY J. GILBERT. 

